Unannounced follow up inspection of Pūrehurehu Forensic Acute Mental Health Unit, Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua

Excerpt

From 24 to 26 June 2024, a team of two inspectors, who were delegated authority to carry out visits to places of detention under the Crimes of Torture Act, 1989 (COTA), made an unannounced three-day visit as part of the follow-up inspection to Pūrehurehu Forensic Acute Inpatient Unit (the Unit), Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua. Inspectors were guided by our Expectations for conditions and treatment of tāngata whai ora in health and disability places of detention. 

The inspection was to follow up on the 16 recommendations made following the previous inspection conducted in 2020. Capital & Coast District Health Board (the DHB), who managed the Unit at the time of this inspection, accepted 11, partially accepted one, and rejected four of these recommendations. 

Follow up inspections of Rangipapa and Tāwhirimātea at the Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua campus were also completed during June and July 2024.

During the 2020 inspection, the Unit was under the management of the DHB. DHBs have since been disestablished and replaced by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand). In this report, there are references to the DHB, as the responsible governing body at the time. However, new recommendations are made to Health New Zealand, as the responsible agency for the current inspection. 

Inspectors gathered and assessed a range of information, including reviewing documents, interviewing a number of people, and observing facility activities. Before leaving the Unit, inspectors met with Unit management and some senior Service management to outline their initial observations.